Man, 37, held on suspicion of double murder after man and woman found stabbed to death

A MAN was last night being held in police custody on suspicion of a double murder after a man and woman were found dead in their flats at a converted house in Bradford.

Police were called to the property in Sawrey Place, Little Horton, after a resident had reported a man had suffered serious injuries in the end terrace building.

The man, in his 40s, was pronounced dead on the scene, and the investigating officers soon found the body of a woman, also in her 40s.

A 37-year-old man, who is also believed to live there, was arrested on suspicion of their murders. It is understood they both died of stab wounds.

The street remained cordoned off to traffic yesterday as police inquiries, including detailed forensic examinations, were carried out.

The other tenants of the privately-rented flats have been temporarily moved to alternative accommodation.

Residents said the bodies were removed from the property at about 2.30pm by private ambulances.

Scenes of crime officers in full forensic gear could be seen going in and out of the property.

Neighbours spoke of their shock at the deaths. Although the identities of the deceased have yet to be confirmed by police, neighbours believe the man was Eastern European and the woman British.

Saddiq Khan, the landlord of the building, said he had received a call from one of his tenants about the seriously injured man on Sunday afternoon, and advised him to ring the police.

He said he was shocked by the news, describing the two as "very good people" and adding: "They were no trouble."

He said the man who was arrested had seemed friendly, and had spoken to him a few days before the incident.

He added: "He seemed like a good guy, I saw him on Friday when he was paying rent. He was very nice."

He said the three had lived in neighbouring flats, and knew each other.

One Sawrey Place resident, who asked not to be identified, said the two victims had moved into the flats several months ago, but few people in the street knew them very well.

Other neighbours had told him that people had heard a scream coming from the house at about 5am on Sunday.

He added: “We had a card post through our doors a few days before saying there had been an assault at the same house.

“I think all the people living there have been put into accommodation while police are investigating.

“It is pretty shocking, we’ve lived here for 29 years and we’ve never had anything like this happening before.”

Another resident claimed that some of the building's tenants would regularly sit in the area outside the house and drink to the early hours.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Dunkerley, said yesterday: "Inquiries into this incident are still at an early stage, and I would like anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious in the Sawrey Place area late on Saturday night or into the early hours of Sunday to come forward.

"Neighbourhood Policing Teams are conducting reassurance patrols and enquiries are ongoing by detectives to both identify the victims and further clarify the circumstances of the incident."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Protective Services (Crime) Department on 101 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here